Snap-switch.



C. J. KLEIN.

SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 1113.20, 190s. RENEWED 001.424, 1910.

Patented MaliI 21, 1911.

Fig- 3 W/ TNESSES PATNT IQ,

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patentdblwal 21, 1911 Application filed February 20, 1908, Serial No. 416,934'.a Renewed October 24, 1910. Serial No. 588,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsv in Snap-Switches, of 4which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto switches adapted for use with electric circuits.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a switch in which a cam and spring engaging the cam produce a snap action of a switch blade, the spring being held stationary and the cam receiving an accelerated movement with relation to its operating member.

Another object of this invention is to pro-` vide a device of simple and compact construction incorporating'the essential features of the invention and which will effectively accomplish and fulfil the functions requiredV of devices of this nat-ure.

Other objects will be in part obvious and will in part appear hereinafter lin connection with the description of thedeviceshown and described in the accompanying drawing. To illustrate my invention I have shown and described a simple form of pendant or socket switch in which the circuit is opened or closed by simply pressing a button.

Like parts in the several views have been given similar reference numbers.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a simple form of switch in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a sidelelevation of one-half of the switch shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the switch as same is about to be opened. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing the switch in itsopen position. y l

At 1 and 2 are shown two half sections of a casing', preferably of porcelainl or other suitable insulating material, in which the switch mechanism may be mounted. AThese half sections may be secured together by any suitable means so as to be easily separated to permit of the assembling of the switch parts and'for making the wire connections.

At S is shown an operating membenpref- 'e1-ably of insulatingv material, 'mounted in the casing 1 and 2 so that the same can be moved or oscillated by the alternate pressure of the finger on one end or the other of this member which projects through the casing.

In the particular embodiment of the'invention illustrated the operating member is provided with two push buttons. In the particular embodiment of the invention 'illustrated the central portion of this operating member 3 is 'formed with a section of reduced diameter providing a support for a circuit closing member which is mounted thereon so as to be 'movable relative to the operating member 3, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The circuit closing member has a cam portion which, includes oppositely inclined surfaces on either side of a line transverse to the axis thereof. These surfaces forv the convenience .of f manufacture are preferably conical in form, as shown-at 4 and 5, and at one end of this-member a switch contact'is provided whichin the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated may assume theform of a cylindrical extension 6. The contact or extension 6 is constructed of conducting material and when the switch stands rin the position shown in Fig. 1 the extension 6 closes the circuit between the line terminals 7 and 8, which are connected to the yterminals 12 and 13,- respectively, to

4`which the wire leads maybe attached by means of'suitable fastening screws.' A resilient member 9 in the form of a coil spring is carried by and surrounds the tapered ortions`4 and 5 .of the circuit closing mem er. This resilient member is'retained against longitudinal movement with the aforesaid movable members by means of retaining members such as 10 and 11, which may be constructed of insulating material and suitably mounted in the casing 1 2 as shown.

The operationy ofthe switch is as follows: Assuming the parts to stand in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the operating member 3 is pushed to the left carrying with it the circuit closing member, which in turn lhave been moved as described to the position shown in Fig. 3, the high portion of the conical member having passed under the center of the., spring after having placed the sarne under tension, the spring acting upon the 1nclined surface 5 causes the circuit closing member to continue its movement toward the left with an' accelerated motion. This quickly carries the extension 6 out of engagement with the line terminals 7 and 8,

providing a quick breaking of the circuit and causing the member to assume the position shown in Fig. 4. To close the switch the operating member 3 is pushed from its opposite end in the reverse direction, 'causing the spring 9 to ride over the inclined portion 5 and to operate the inclined portion 4 of the circuit closing member to close the circuit in a similar manner.

It will thus be seen that the quick break in opening the circuit and the accelerated movement in closing the same is accomplished in a very simple and effective manner by the device just described. It will be noted that with this device it is impossible for the operator to hold the switch either partly open or partly closed and thus any arcing between the contacts is prevented as a movement of the operating member suiiicient to causo the circuit closing member to move ont of engagement with the line terminals at the same time causes the spring to operate on the inclined surfaces and automatically and quickly open the circuit entirely. The sameis true when the switch is being closed, consequently, it is impossible for the operator to hold or manipulate the device so as to cause an arcing between the circuit clos ing member and the line terminals.

It will be understood that the movement of the member 3 may be accomplished in other ways than by manual manipulation as described and also that the invention may be applied to devices for various uses other than the one shown and described herein.

As Vmany changes could be made in the above construction and .many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention designed without departing from the scope thereof, I intend that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative merely of an operative embodiment of my invention and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

l. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a cam actuated by and movable with relation to said operating member, said switch vcontact being actuated by said cam, a resilient tension member engaging said cam, means for preventing thevresilient member from moving in the direction of movementoi' the operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with relation to the said operating member to open and close said circuit.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating Vmember, a cam mounted on and movable with relation to said operating member, said switch contact being actuated by said cam, a resilient tension member engaging' said' cam, means for preventing the resilient member from moving in the direction of movement of the operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit. Y

3. In an electricswitch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a cam actuated by and movable with relation to said operating member, said switch contact being actuated by said cam, a resilient tension member engaging said cam, retaining walls for holding said resilient member, the parts being so constructed and aranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with'relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a push button carried by said operating member, a cam actuated by and movable with relation to said `operating member, said switch' con- Itact being actuated by saidjcam, a resilient tension member, engaging said cam, means for preventing the resilient member from moving in the direction of movement of the operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said `cam is given an accelerated movement with yrelation to said operating member to open and close Said circuit.

5. In an electric swit-ch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a push button carried by said operating member, a cam mounted on and movable with relation to said operating member, said switch' con tactbeing actuated by said cam, a resilient tension member engagingsaid cam, means for preventing the resilient member from moving in the direction of movement of the operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit.

GIn an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a push but ton carried by said operating member, 'a

cam actuated by and movable with relation to said. operating member, said switch contact being actuated by said cam, a resilient tension member engaging said cam, retaining walls for holding said resilient member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit.

7. In an electric switch, the'combination of line terminals, a reciprocating operating member, push buttons secured to opposite ends thereof, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit, a cam actuated by and movable with relation to said operating member, said vswitch vcontact being actuated by said cam, a resilient tension member engaging said cam, means for' preventing the resilient member from moving in thedirection of movement of the operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movelnent with relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit.

fio

8. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open or close the circuit throughsaid terminals, a cam having oppositely inclined surfaces on either side of a line transverse to the axis thereof, an operating'member on which lsaid cam is mounted, said cam being movable with relation to said operating member, a spring engaging said cam and means for holding said spring, the parts being so constructed and 'arranged that said vcam is given an accelerated movement with relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit. v

9. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a cam actuated by and movable with relation to said operating member, said cam having oppositely inclined conical surfaces on either side of aline transverse to the axis thereof, a spring engaging said cam, means for reventing said spring from moving in the irection of movement of the operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an acceleratedmovement with relation to said operating member to open andclose said circuit.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contactarranged to. open and close the circuit through said line terminals, .an operating membera cam carried by and movable with relation to said operating member a springcarrled'by said cam .and means f0r"holding the said spring, vthe parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movementwith relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit.

11. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, 'an operating member, a cam hav ing oppositely inclined conical surfaces mov-v able on said operating member and with relation thereto, a spring carried by Said cam and engaging the surface thereof, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with relation'to said operating member 'to open and'close said circuit.

12; In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said termina-ls, an operatingrnember for actuating said cam, a spring directly engaging said cam, means for. preventing Said spring from moving in the direction of movement of the operating member, said cam being bodily movable with relation to said operating member, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said cam is given an accelerated movement with relation to said operating member to open and close said circuit.

13. In an electric switch, the -combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, a ca-m having inclined cam surfaces and arranged to be moved with relation to its operating member, an operating member for actuating said cam, a spring directly engaging said cam, means for preventing said spring from moving in the direction of movement ofl the operating member, the parts being so constructed and -arranged that said spring is placed under tension by the movement of ",said operating member whereupon the spring acting upon one of said cam surfaces causes a further accelerated movement of said cam independently of said operating member to open and close the circuit.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of line terminals, a switch contact arranged to open and close the circuit through said terminals, an operating member, a cam having oppositely inclined conical surfaces and arranged to be moved with relation to the operating member, a` stationaryhelical spring circumferentially engaging said cam, the parts being so constructed and arranged that one of said conical surfaces is adapted to be moved into engagement with said spring so as to extend the same" and the other of said conical surfaces is adapted to be moved into engagement with said spring so as to give an accelerated -movement to said vcam independently of the movement of the operating member. f

15. Iman electric switch the combination p of,a casing, line terminals, areciprocating operating member supported and guided by said casing, a cam having oppositely. inclined conical surfaces supported and guided on said operating member and movable with relation thereto, and a stationary helical l Signed at the city of New York in the spring engaging said cam so that: by the county of New York and State of New movement of said operating member, the York this Feb. 14 1908. spring is first placed under tension und CHARLES JULIUS KLEIN.

- thereupon produces an accelerated movement Witnesses:

of the cam with relation to the operating H. BISSETT, member so as to control the circuit. ALFRED E. NYAAGE. 

